Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-06
SECRET OF THE HOUSE.

| went 10 CalI iitl lAlitF lp ltd, dS WIS HtE
! custom, a tall, dark man rose from his seat
near the window and their eyes met. His
warm brown eyes looked into her calm
| gray ones, and they We're calm no longer.
Helen's life had been singularly un-
| eventful She had been n shy. quiet child,
and she had grown to he a calm, reserved
woman Her mother had died when she
was a very small child. and Helen did not
remember ever having seen her. She had
| lived with her father always in the same
| Old house. which contained an unused
wing whose windows, far up from the
! ground. were almost entirely hidden by
| trees and vines As II child she had been
forbidden to ask questions about this part
| OF the house, and as "A woman she had
never been told its secret.
The professor had not encouraged visi
| tors at his house, and Helen was not a
| favorite with the young people of the vii
| lage-she was too quiet and too retiring.
She had her books, her birds and flowers.
her poor people and her Sunday school
class.
And so she had grown to be a woman.
''DO not marry Iou will be far hap
pier as single woman" Her father had
| said this many lines To her, and Helen
wondered if her mother had not made him
happy. Once she questioned him con-
| corning her dead mother. who was never
mentioned, and for answer he rose alb
ruptly and left the room, leaving Helen
perpleXed and distressed
And then, one April day, Mark came.
He was dignitied and quiet, with a
shadow in his eyes and lines about his
mouth. He was TO stay at the professor
house until the work upou which he had
t,.I aud h.f
occupy about three months.
At the end Of the week Mark knew
that he loved Helen, and he determined
10 avoid her.
One day Mt the end of the third week
she missed "A pale blue ribbon from the
dress she was wearing At the tea table
that evening Mark took some papers from
his pocket to show to the professor, and
the blue ribbon fell into his plate. His
eyes met Helsn's, and they both turned
scarlet
He saw her alone for one instant that
evening. when he said good night
My love- my love- he said, softly,
pressing her hands to his breast, and then
Helen freed herself and ran up stairs.
When she came down in the morning her
father was alone: Mark had gone away
for few days quite Unexpectedly.
How lonely the house was without
him, What had she done before he came'
What should she do after he was gone for
all times Long before the day was over
she knew that she loved him.
At the end Of three days Mark returned
Unexpectedly. Helen was crossing the
hall in the early twilight, and when he
saw her glad light broke over his face.
She trembled ard stood still while he came
rapidly towards her and took both Of her
hands in his. He passed one arm about
her and drew her close to him.
Helen, my lover he said in low
tone. and then bending his head, pressed
a tender kiss on her lips.
After this they were continually to- |
gether but no word of love was spoken. |
His eyes rested on her lovingly and ten |
derly, and when she was absent his |
thoughts turned increasingly to her. |
When her dress brushed against him it |
thrilled him from head to foot. and when |
she laid her hand in his before parting at |
night it required his strongest self con- |
troll 10 prevent his taking her in his arms, |
even when her father was present.
And Helen' She was living in a little
paradise. Life had never looked SO fair
the spring had never been so beautiful.
1t was late in May. and the apple bios |
SONS were falling. Mark and Helen were
in the garden leaning against an old stone
wall. and conyersing idly. Suddenly he |
stretched ont his arm and drew her to |
him. She yielded to his firm strong clasp
as he put his arms about her, and turning
her face gently upwards, he kissed her
lips.
Helen, viii you be my wife," he asked
His voice was low, but there was in it
strange mixture of love, fear, dread and
determination.
She hesitated trembling with happi-
ness, and felt his heart beat against her
side.
Yes" she answered, softly, and rails
ing her eyes, they rested on the half hid
den windows Of the unused wing A
faint tremor, for which she could not ac-
count, passed through her frame, and she
nestled closer to Mark.
The professor was averse to the mar
riagc. He had no objection to Mark, but
he did not wish Helen to marry. She
would be happier If she remained a single
woman. In the meantime the lovers
We're as happy as lovers usually are; or,
at least, one was. Mark had moods
Helen found him one morning on seat
in a distant part Of the garden, which was
overlooked by the windows of the unused
wing. His elbows rested on his knees,
and his face was buried in his hands.
Helen sat down by him and waited for
him to speak. After some minutes he
looked up and tried to smile, but his face
was pale and haggard
You are not well, Mark she gently
questioned, laying her hand on his.
s1NeS uuii, well- ,ply "a ha ba !
answered, and putting his arm around
her, he drew her head down on his shoul-
der where she could not see his face.
Helen he said, Il love You so well,
that if you We're taken from me | should
kill myself | feel that I could not sur
vive your loss. And if any one should
step i'll between us TO separate us, should ,
kill that person. love you so well that
l would commit any crime, If it were
necessary, TO make you mine" .
She trembled at his vehemence and
crept closer to him. She looked up in his ,
face and saw that he was strangely agl-
tated.
Nothing will separate us, I think,
Mark" she said in her soft, low voice. .
He put his hand under his chin and .
said almost roughly: ,
do you love me, Helen' Answer me!' ,
II do, Mark
He drew her closely to him and pressed I
hot kisses on her lips. !
They were married in August. ,
The wedding was quiet one, for Helen s
had few intimate friends Mark was from
! distant state and had 10 relatives There
was short wedding "trip, and then they -.
TO live with the professor. He !,
lad insisted upon that I
Three months passed They had been I
months of entire and complete happiness
% Helen. She loved and she was beloved S